It’s only fitting that one of the most anticipated Mercer County boys’ basketball Tournaments in recent history set up one of the most anticipated matchups of local standouts.

Even before the final buzzer sounded in Ewing’s 76-68 victory over Pennington in front of a jam-packed house at Mercer County Community College, many of those in attendance had already began envisioning a collision course between Ewing and Trenton Catholic Academy and their marquee junior guards, Trey Lowe and Syracuse University-bound guard Malachi Richardson.

“I’m ready,” Lowe said shortly after dropping a game-high 34 points in helping the Blue Devils dispatch the Red Raiders. “That’s all I can say. It’s going to be a great game with a lot of people there. We’re looking forward to it and we’ll be ready for it.”

The two teams will meet in what has the makings to be a classic MCT final tonight at a sold-out Alumni Gym at Rider University at 7:30 p.m. TCA sold its allotment of tickets by Thursday evening and Ewing sold its allotment by 8:15 yesterday morning.

Those with tickets to only the boys’ game will not be allowed into the gym until 6:15 p.m. as tournament officials will be clearing the gym after the Hopewell Valley and Notre Dame meet in the girls’ final at 3 p.m.

If the two teams can come close to replicating their last meeting in the 2011-12 MCT final — a game that TCA won, 59-55, despite 36 points from Ewing’s David Azoroh — the 1,600-or-so fans in attendance are going to be in for a memorable night.

While Ewing came up short in the teams’ last two meetings, the Blue Devils found their stride after that game in winning six straight games to claim the NJSIAA Group III title before dropping an overtime heartbreaker to Atlantic City in the opening round of the Tournament of Champions.

While both Lowe and Richardson’s impact will loom large over the outcome of the game, the team that exits as county champions will likely have gotten the most out of its supporting cast.

Lowe has been masterful all season in consistently finding the right balance between making sure his teammates are involved early and when to take over the game.

Richardson, with a MCT, NJSIAA Non-Public B and Tournament of Champions titles already on his résumé, has had some quiet halves of basketball but has the capability to go off on any given night, just like he did in going for 37 in a loss to The Patrick School.

Both Lowe and Richardson have plenty of talent and emerging standouts around them to help shift the outcome.

TCA’s Myles Powell has drained 68 3-pointers, Richmond Aririguzoh has become a disruptive force in the low post for the Iron Mikes, Marquise Bell supplies consistent energy and effort on both ends and James Wright is averaging 16.5 ppg. over the last four games.

“It’s a great feeling,” Wright, a Ewing native, said of playing in the MCT final.

“I’ve never played in a county final before so I’m excited to be going there with my team. And I know a lot of the guys over there too so it should be fun.”

Ewing counters with the sturdy, dependable guard play of Rasaan “Speedy” Parker and Kani Tye and standout forwards Brian Wilkins and Eric Rowe.

“We’re ready,” Lowe said. “We’re going to be ready to play. We’re going to come out, play hard and step up on defense. We’re going to leave everything we have out there and try to come out with the (win).”

Contact Kevin Maloney at Kevmaloney33@yahoo.com. You can follow him on Twitter at Kevmaloney33.